{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-2","petitioner_identifier":"Angela Malar","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":43.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2015-10-04","condition_raw":"neuromyelitis optica","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-11-19","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal25","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 17:12:55","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":180,"theory_of_causation":"Adult petitioner, age 43; influenza vaccine October 4, 2015; neuromyelitis optica/optic neuritis. DISMISSED/DENIED. Petitioner experts Dr. Alberto Martinez-Arizala and Dr. Subramaniam Sriram proposed molecular mimicry; respondent emphasized six-month onset, no spinal cord involvement, and B12 deficiency explaining earlier paresthesias. SM found NMO onset April 2, 2016 and timing not medically acceptable; Althen prongs two/three failed. Petition filed September 19, 2018; decision November 19, 2025.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-09-19","case_summary":"On September 19, 2018, Angela Malar filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on October 4, 2015 caused neuromyelitis optica. She was 43 years old at vaccination and had a history that included fibromyalgia and migraine.\n\nMs. Malar did not seek medical attention for nearly six months. On March 28, 2016, she was seen for an upper respiratory infection, and the next day she saw ophthalmology for visual complaints. On April 3, 2016, she presented to the emergency department with a one-day history of left-eye vision changes, leading to an optic neuritis diagnosis and later neuromyelitis optica diagnosis based on antibody testing. Earlier paresthesias were also discussed in the record, but respondent attributed those symptoms to vitamin B12 deficiency rather than NMO.\n\nPetitioner's experts, Dr. Alberto Martinez-Arizala and Dr. Subramaniam Sriram, advanced molecular mimicry and argued that the flu vaccine could cause NMO. Respondent's experts disputed causation, emphasizing the long interval from vaccination to optic neuritis/NMO onset, lack of spinal cord involvement, and alternative explanation for earlier neurologic symptoms. The Special Master found onset on April 2, 2016, about six months after vaccination, which was too remote for the proposed mechanism. Ms. Malar failed to establish Althen prongs two and three, and the case was dismissed with no injury award.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Mark Theodore Sadaka","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Offices of Sadaka Associates, LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Englewood, NJ","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|mark-sadaka|","firm_canonical_key":"law-offices-of-sadaka-associates","package_title":"MALAR v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-0","title":"MALAR v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/16/2022) regarding 93 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-07-11","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-1","title":"MALAR v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER (Originally filed: 1/22/2026) regarding 154 Order on Motion to Redact Decision. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-02-17","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"docketText matches skip keyword 'motion'","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-2","title":"MALAR v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/19/2025) regarding 145 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-02-17","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":428125,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01429-2"}]}